In the early hours of the morning, around 3 a.m., firefighters responded to a significant blaze at a social housing complex on Thompson Road in Norlane, a suburb of Geelong. Upon arrival, they found several units engulfed in flames.

Residents in the area recounted the terrifying sight of a “wall of fire” that rapidly consumed the fence and threatened a nearby bedroom. The fire’s swift spread left the neighborhood on edge.

“My immediate concern was whether anyone was trapped inside,” shared local resident Tam Quarry. “Then I worried about how far the fire might reach.”

Another neighbor, Tayla, described her harrowing experience: “I quickly grabbed my phone to call the fire department. A neighbor rushed over to help get me and my cat out safely. It was a complete shock to the system,” she said. “I’ve never witnessed anything like that before.”

Tragically, emergency crews rescued a woman from the unit where the fire originated, but despite their efforts, she could not be revived.

A woman was pulled from the unit where it started, but was unable to be revived.

She is yet to be formally identified, but it’s believed she did not usually live in the complex.

“It’s just terrible that someone had to lose their life,” neighbour Taravali said.

Investigators remained at the scene all day and arrested two men, aged 35 and 38, nearby.

The fire completely gutted the home where the blaze began, and multiple neighbouring units sustained extensive smoke and water damage.

Residents will now need to find another place to live while the owner decides what to do next.

“It’s got to be upsetting for the people next door – not just the house, but the units joined to it too,” neighbour Kyle Johnson said.

Detectives from the arson squad seized a number of items including a mobile phone.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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